Writing
Explore resources designed to improve writing instruction in elementary school. 
- View a visual diagram of all five practices
- Watch a topic overview and download planning templates
- Listen to an expert
Explore the subtopics below to learn more about the recommended practices:
To learn more about the research underlying these practices, view the IES Practice Guide, Teaching Elementary Students to Be Effective Writers.
Kentucky Department of Education Program Review Guide
Writing > States & Districts
Review this guide to learn more about the procedures that Kentucky uses to review writing programs. To learn more about the state's process, listen to the associated audio interview. Related...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Developing a Shared Writing Assignment
Writing > Engaged Community > Overview & Tools
This tool provides a framework for planning lessons in which students collaborate to develop a shared piece of writing. Watch the presentation, Creating an Engaged Community of Writers, to learn...
Resource Type
Tool
Teacher Self-Reflection: Building a Community of Writers
Writing > Engaged Community > Overview & Tools
Teachers can use this tool to reflect on strategies they use to build an engaged community of writers. To learn more about these strategies, watch Giving Students a Choice, There Is a Larger...
Resource Type
Tool
Planning to Teach Sentence Construction
Writing > Foundational Skills > Overview & Tools
Use this tool to plan lessons using mentor texts to teach sentence construction. View the related sample materials and listen to the audio interview to learn more about using mentor text to teach...
Resource Type
Tool
Using Mentor Texts to Teach Foundational Skills: A Planner
Writing > Foundational Skills > Overview & Tools
Elementary school teachers can use this tool for organizing ideas and identifying mentor texts that can be integrated into lesson plans on grammar and sentence mechanics. Using this tool, teachers...
Resource Type
Tool
Self-Reflection Tool: Activities for Sentence Structure Development
Writing > Foundational Skills > Overview & Tools
This tool can be used to identify ideas for focused instruction within three research-based instructional activities for sentence development: sentence framing, sentence expanding, and sentence...
Resource Type
Tool
Learning Together: Integrating Writing Into the Curriculum
Writing > Daily Time > Overview & Tools
Use this tool to plan writing projects as part of social studies, math, or science curricula. This tool can be used in professional learning communities as an activity for collaborative learning...
Resource Type
Tool
Self-Reflection Tool: Writing Across the Curriculum
Writing > Daily Time > Overview & Tools
Teachers and coaches can use this tool to reflect on current practice and identify ideas for new instructional activities for including daily writing across all subject areas. View the interview,...
Resource Type
Tool
Planning to Teach Writing Strategies
Writing > Writing Process > Overview & Tools
This tool is designed to help teachers plan writing strategies that are suited to their students and their grade level. Strategies are provided for each step of the writing process, along with...
Resource Type
Tool
Teacher Self-Assessment: Gradual Release of Responsibility
Writing > Writing Process > Overview & Tools
Teachers can use this tool to reflect on the steps they take to gradually release the responsibility for using writing strategies to students. Specific steps are listed to help teachers show...
Resource Type
Tool
Learning Together: Applying the Writing Process
Writing > Writing Process > Overview & Tools
Use this tool as a learning and listening guide with the interviews, Strategies for Using the Writing Process, Teaching Students to Use the Writing Process for a Variety of Purposes, and Understand...
Resource Type
Tool
Writing Planning Template #4
Writing > Overview & Tools
This template can help districts and schools understand the alignment between the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts K-5 and the recommended practices in the IES Practice Guide,...
Resource Type
Planning Template
